The Quantum Imaging Laboratory contains four ultra-dark experimental rooms, coated in black to absorb stray photons. Each darkroom has vibration-isolation optical tables equipped with state-of-the-art lasers, optical components, and CCD cameras. Chilled water, compressed air, and ample electric power are supplied to the experiments. Krypton-ion lasers operating on the 413-nm line, argon-ion lasers on the 351-nm line, as well as a He-Cd laser on the 325-nm line, are used to pump various nonlinear optical crystals such as lithium-iodate and beta-barium borate (BBO) to generate entangled photon pairs. Femtosecond twin beams are produced by downconverting pulses from an argon-laser-pumped "Tsunami" titanium-sapphire laser.

Stand-alone optical systems, such as interferometers, microscopes, and spectrometers, sit nearby. The darkrooms are equipped with their own climate control center. Overhead lighting (used to modify experimental arrangements) is incandescent, thereby protecting sensitive photodetectors from stray luminescence photons that emanate from fluorescent fixtures long after they are turned off. The environment permits the utmost in reliability for ultralow-light-level studies.

The electronics and computer control systems are located in the adjoining instrumentation center. Also housed there are the latest in measurement and test equipment, including dedicated instrument-control and data-acquisition computers for each darkroom. Computing facilities include high-speed PentiumPro and PowerPCs and access to Boston University's mainframes through the Laboratory's X-terminal. All electronic and computer connections to the darkrooms are built-in to eliminate even the most minute light leak.